Five Methodist Church’s former office-bearers booked in fraud case

 

 

 

The Economics Offence Wing (EOW) Jabalpur, booked five former office-bearers of the Methodist Church in India in a case of forgery of Rs 7.62 crore, on Tuesday. The accused had illegally constructed building on Nazul land and have been accused of stealing duty and lease rent causing revenue loss of the Government amounting in crores of rupees.

The accused have been identified as Rev John R S Simon, the then District Superintendent, Methodist Church of India Jabalpur, Manish Gidian, Executive Secretary, Methodist Church of India, in front of Taiyyab Ali Petrol Pump, M A Daniel, Bishop Methodist Church, Chapil road Hyderabad, currently in front of Taiyyab Ali Petrol Pump, Jabalpur, Ravi Kumar Prasad, Lay Leader and Ericnath, Treasurer of Methodist Church in India, Methodist Church in India, Regional Conference Jabalpur.

EOW Jabalpur, Inspector, Swarnjeet Singh Dhami informed that investigating a complaint, they learnt that illegal construction was made on Nazul plot of civil station number 4, 5 and 8/1 without paying its duty and land premium amount which caused revenue loss of the Government amounting in crores of rupees. In further investigation, EOW team found that the Secretary of Methodist Church in India had presented an application for lease renewal of 0.9866 acre on Block No-4 and 5. The then Tehsildar Nazul Ranjhi had recommended the paying of land rent for lease renewal on December 8, 2004. On the basis of report, the then Collector had released order for lease renewal on January 19, 2005.

Similarly, application for lease renewal of 2.9838 acres land of Bloc No-4 Plot No-8/1 was submitted and the then Tehsildar Ranjhi had recommended the lease renewal on December 8, 2004 and the then Collector, on December 13, 2004, released order for lease renewal.

On the basis of documentary evidences, EOW Jabalpur found that the Methodist Church in India did not pay the land lease rent and failed in registration of lease document. The then office-bearers Methodist Church in India caused financial loss of Rs. 7,62,16,432 to the Government. EOW Jabalpur has registered a case against five the then office-bearers of Methodist Church in India Jabalpur under sections 420 and 34 of IPC while further investigations are underway.